A new chapter is unfolding for BBO. In the coming months and years, we will be refreshing and evolving BBO to ensure you, our players, have the best possible bridge experience.
But before we look to the future of BBO, let’s reflect on the past. For close to 25 years, BBO has grown alongside the bridge community, embracing technical advancements, welcoming hundreds of thousands of passionate players, and staying true to the sense of camaraderie that has defined us—especially during challenging times like during the COVID-19 crisis.
Let’s take a journey through BBO’s history and explore how it became the world’s leading online bridge platform.
April 23rd, 2001 – Bridge Base Online Launched
The journey begins with the launch of Bridge Base Online (BBO), providing a new platform for bridge players to connect and compete online.
Learn More...
August 2001 – VuGraph Debuts
The introduction of live tournament broadcasting enhances the spectator experience, allowing players and fans to watch live bridge action from around the world.
January 2004 – Introduction of BB$
BBO introduces the BB$, a virtual currency that enables players to participate in premium games, tournaments, and use special features on the platform.
June 2004 – Bridge Base Multilingual
BBO expands its reach with a multilingual platform, making the game accessible to players globally by offering various languages.
June 2004 – ACBL Sanctioned Tournaments
BBO officially integrates American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) sanctioned tournaments, creating more competitive opportunities for bridge enthusiasts.
Learn More...
August 2004 – BBO Awards Symbols
BBO introduces award symbols, marking milestones and achievements in the player community and adding a layer of prestige to gameplay.
July 2005 – BBO Robots Arrive (GIB)
With the arrival of GIB (Ginsberg's Intelligent Bridge player), BBO revolutionizes solo play by offering robot opponents and partners, as well as robot tournaments, enhancing flexibility for players.
March 2008 – BBO Goes Web-Based
BBO transitions to a fully web-based platform, increasing accessibility worldwide and allowing players to join games from virtually anywhere, without the need for downloads.
May 2010 – Pictures in Profiles
Players can now personalize their profiles by adding pictures, creating a more social and interactive community experience.
Learn more...
2012 – BBO Mobile App Launch
BBO expands its reach with the introduction of a mobile app, allowing players to play on the go and bringing the bridge experience to smartphones and tablets.
2013 – BBO Tournaments Enhance Social Engagement
BBO begins offering more interactive tournament features, including chat rooms, real-time leaderboards, and a greater variety of tournament types to engage players and build a vibrant community.
2015 – Introduction of BBO Clubs
The launch of virtual clubs enables users to create and manage their own bridge clubs, organizing private games and tournaments, reinforcing the sense of community.
2016 – Partnerships with International Bridge Organizations
BBO forges key partnerships with international bridge organizations to host prestigious global tournaments and events, solidifying its reputation as the top online bridge platform.
2018 – Induction into the ACBL Hall of Fame
BBO is inducted into the American Contract Bridge League’s Hall of Fame, recognizing its long-term commitment to the growth and development of the bridge community.
2020 – COVID-19 & the Rise of Online Bridge
As the pandemic accelerates the global shift to online activities, BBO becomes the primary hub for bridge events and virtual clubs, providing a vital space for players to stay connected in spite of the need for social distancing.
Learn more...
2024 – BBO+ Subscription Launches and video chat
BBO launches its premium subscription service, BBO+, offering exclusive features and content to enhance players' overall bridge experience.
Learn more...
2024 – 11.6 Million Monthly Visits! Thank YOU
BBO solidifies its position as the world's largest online bridge platform, reaching 11.6 million monthly visits and continues to grow its global player base.
Learn More...
May 2025 – Bridge Experience Points (BXP)
A new progression system, BXP is introduced, redefining achievement and recognition in bridge by rewarding players with points based on their performance and milestones. Learn more...
i apest dopo io non parlo inghop aspettao
lèttol plei for mi letti lottel io no fmbe plei se possibol jettol plplei Bg
lèttol plei for mi letti lottel io no fmbe plei
Oh my....this is absolute non-user friendly. It is almost impossible to locate a BBO duplicate game. I have looked in various areas and cannot find a robot duplicate BBO game. I am accustomed to popping in, playing a few tournaments and then leaving. This is impossible. I do not see what players are currently on-line.
It is a mess. I will try to go elsewhere to play bridge. The frustration is not worth the time. Fire whoever set this mess up.
Hi Stacie, sorry to hear it’s been frustrating, we know the new changes take some getting used to. The team’s listening closely to feedback like yours and working on making the experience better for everyone. Thanks for your patience, and we hope you’ll give it another try soon!
My goodness! I have been using BBO for about 6 months as a novice,and found it pretty easy to find things to keep me occupied. Tonight this showed up. I have gone through the tabs at the top to get an overview and am not sure I will return again. It has turned into the Harry Potter scene when all the items started multiplying and filled up the whole hall...the first confusing thing is that you can't tell where you are, the Timeline tab stays gold..there is no indication which tab you are in. I agree much!! Too much white space! Scrollin scrollin scrollin!! Is not what I want to do and by the time I have gone through 10 screens on the tablet I don't know where I am or have been as the tab doesn't tell me.
The minus tab to reduce display is grayed out so this apparently is as small as it will go. And that still probably won't condense the paragraph spacing.
Maybe after I log back in...which won't be till after I go to the den and retrieve my password book, not happening tonight....it will look somewhat familiar.
Right now very confusing and way too much acreage to cover for what I want to do. I can't imagine navigating this on a computer
That said, the old BBO was maybe a little too cryptic, but this way too spread out..hoping once I retrieve my login it will be much more user friendly..as someone has spent a lot of effort modernizing it..not sure what the average age is of we site users..but that should be a consideration. The KISS principle always works.
So A for effort, but please make this much simpler.
Hi Sherry, thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts, we really appreciate the detailed feedback. We understand that the new layout can feel unfamiliar at first, especially after getting used to the old one. We’re still fine-tuning things and listening closely to players’ experiences like yours.
FYI, BBO, the old Windows client could always be run perfectly satisfactorily using Linux and WINE. It wanted a simple tweak to a configuration file, and you needed to install the Symbol font, and that was it. I know nothing about Apple kit, but given that the Apple operating system is (was?) a heavily customised version of Unix, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the old Windows client could be run under that setup as well. We lost a number of useful features when the Windows client was killed off, not the least of them being 'Full Disclosure', the automated alerting system. Yes, I know that some third parties have since written replacements for 'Full Disclosure'.
I am new to Bob and find it very hard to navigate. When I click on the 7 tricks game, a Gris comes up bu t nothing you click on that grid is live .thepathindicatedisnotvalid tofind the game. Very discouraged.
It is not clear how many minimum boards one has to play in September to achieve next stage in OCTOBER. As I WILL BE ON MY MOVE.PLEASE MENTION
daha tecrübeli briççiler olması ve turnovalarda kayıtlı olması gereken arkadaşları terci edilmesi bence daha uygun oldugunu duşunuyorum saygılar
I have b been playing on BBO you over 15 years.
I can no longer understand your format or how to get a game.
Have communication with a director available for everyone at the table.
Do not like it. Do not like how it was forced on us. I do hope this not the future!!!!
Dislike BXP title and prefer you go back to BBO.
I don´t think these BXP points are an enhancement.
There once existed a ranking system made of a very clever person that really showed how good a player is. That system was based on what results a person achieved when he played different tournaments on BBO.
The system also considered the ranking of the opponents he played against.
Of course it is possible to achieve many BXP points in your new system if you sit playing tournaments all the days long.
But this do not mean that you are a genuine good player.
Nowy system BXP jest beznadziejny-najlepiej wrócić do starego systemu.System dawny BBO był prosty i łatwy w prowadzeniu.Pozdrawiam.
I can not yunderstand you ! AS#$|%@!
I think your Milestone categories have missed the mark and can only charitably described as cheesy. I used to think Bridge was a cut above other games, but your categories remind me of Spider Solitaire - a relatively mindless time waster.
Really - does anybody playing bridge feel like:
Explorer; Tactician; Strategist; virtuoso; maestro; Supremo; Legend. These categories do not even stay in the same genre.
You can do better........ much better
I detest these categories. They have no meaning to me.
Instead of how many logins. Why not have the last date one logged into BBO?
Where is my pts of may
Help in biding, intermediate player
What are the BXP? Is these BBO Points in another style?
Yes — BXP (Bridge Experience Points) are the new version of BBO Points. You’ll earn them in the same way, but they now come with a clearer structure: levels, milestones, and badges to help you track your progress more easily. 🙂